Midwest Memo
Snippets
by Alan Shultz

Sunday was so glorious, the sun so warm and promising, that just the briefest hint of spring seemed enough to get us through the rest of this long cold winter. It's natural to long for something for which to look forward. Sunday delivered just that.

Last night, instead of writing when I should have, I got caught up watching a movie I've seen before. In "Under the Tucson Sun" the newly divorced main character wishes early in the movie for happiness that seems to elude her. Towards the end of the movie, our heroine finds herself in a moment of melancholy still longing for that same happiness. Her friend points out that the happiness the heroine sought has come to her, just in a different form than she had herself first outlined.

The story pointed out to me that although we are not always the authors of our happiness, we are indeed the interpreters of said happiness.

* * *

At the parking garage I frequent there is an enclosed lobby area on each floor where you catch the elevator or stairs down to ground level. The lobby area is separated from the parking area by double doors that swing both in and out.

The other night the pedestrian doors would only swing "in." That's because a car was parked in the walkway area leading from the parking blacktop into the pedestrian lobby. It was so clearly not a parking spot, so clearly not an option, sometimes you just have to scratch your head.

* * *

Speaking of cars... The other day I was the odd man out feeling awkward in a conversation when I met two others to show them real estate for sale. The twosome were old friends and they arrived separately in front of the building in question.

The conversation went something like:

First lady: "Oh, I saw you pull up in your cute new car - it's really fun."

Second lady: "Oh, I just got it and blah, blah, blah.

First lady: "Oh, I can't stand it you look so, blah, blah, blah... in it."

Meanwhile, I'm looking at my shoes, shifting from one foot to the other.

"Ok," I finally ask, "what kind of car is it?"

Second lady: "It's the 280." She tossed the words at me in staccato form.

Now, I'll admit that I don't pay that much attention to

fancy cars I can't afford. And

I'll concede that the "280"

maybe was a "360" or a "420" - I have no idea. The numbers didn't register a particular automobile to me. If I had to guess I'd suppose the cute new car was a Mercedes or a BMW - but I have no clue.

Aren't snobs fun?

* * *

Daylight savings time arrives early this year. And so don't forget to spring forward this coming Saturday evening.

We have a lot of wind up clocks in the house. Then there are all the digital ones. There's a cuckoo clock and a big Black Forest chiming clock from my sister. It takes almost an hour to get these clocks right - so I'm down two hours in my savings? Right?

If we are to believe those who lobbied for Eastern daylight savings, this event should put an end to crime as we know it and boost the economy with all the increased golf course activity.

The promise of quiet, early morning walks in daylight, that's good enough for me.

Enjoy!